Brave opened as it had been newly installed (lost everything)

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Hi,

I’ve been using Brave for Windows 11 for a few months, and was really enthusiastic with it.

BUT…

this morning, I opened the browser as usual, and the browser appeared as if I uninstalled and freshly re-installed ity during the night.

No more bookmarks, no Internet history logs, nothing. Even the parameters I modified for my personal use were reseted.

Is there a way to retrieve history and bookmarks ? Did someone here experience the same issue ?

I just hope it won’t happen every 2 months …

2

@JuLille

Read / Study:

‘https://support.brave.app/hc/en-us/articles/29808985123085-Sensitive-data-storage’

‘Lost all cookies including passwords and site data - #2 by Saoiray’

and explore:

Passwords lost

https://community.brave.app/search?q=passwords%20lost%20in%3Atitle%20order%3Alatest

Bookmarks lost

https://community.brave.app/search?q=bookmarks%20lost%20in%3Atitle%20order%3Alatest

Data lost

https://community.brave.app/search?q=data%20lost%20in%3Atitle%20order%3Alatest

Local State lost

https://community.brave.app/search?q=local%20state%20lost%20in%3Atitle%20order%3Alatest

Where Brave Browser Profiles Are Located

With Brave Browser running, open a New Window and go to: brave://version

Scroll down to Profile Path: You should see, for

Linux OS - usually but not always:

/home/[username]/.config/BraveSoftware/Brave-Browser/[profile_folder_name]

MacOS: /Users/[username]/Library/Application Support/BraveSoftware/Brave-Browser/[profile_folder_name]

Windows OS: C:\Users\[UserName]\AppData\Local\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\[profile_folder_name]

The actual Profile folder names for [profile_folder_name] would be:

  • Default
  • Profile 1
  • Profile 2
  • Profile n [where n is the next increment: 3, 4, . . . etc.]

Upon the original installation and setup of Brave Browser (“BB”):

The 1st BB User Profile is named Profile 1 and its data is maintained within the folder named Default:

  • MacOS: /Users/[username]/Library/Application Support/BraveSoftware/Brave-Browser/Default
  • Windows OS: C:\Users\[UserName]\AppData\Local\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Default

When proceeding with the creation of additional BB User Profiles:

The 2nd BB User Profile name will be Profile 2 and its data will be maintained within the folder named Profile 1:

  • MacOS: /Users/[username]/Library/Application Support/BraveSoftware/Brave-Browser/Profile 1
  • Windows OS: C:\Users\[UserName]\AppData\Local\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Profile 1

The 3rd BB User Profile name will be Profile 3 and its data will be maintained within the folder named Profile 2:

  • MacOS: /Users/[username]/Library/Application Support/BraveSoftware/Brave-Browser/Profile 2
  • Windows OS: C:\Users\[UserName]\AppData\Local\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Profile 2

Repeating the pattern of BB User Profile creations:

  • Actual 1st BB User Profile data is in folder named Default
  • Actual 2nd BB User Profile data is in folder named Profile 1
  • Actual 3rd BB User Profile data is in folder named Profile 2
  • Actual 4th BB User Profile data is in folder named Profile 3

Renaming the BB User Profile name(s) . . . DOES NOT CHANGE the folder names and structure:

  • Renaming 1st BB User Profile name, from Profile 1 to Bob8 ← still uses folder named Default
  • Renaming 2nd BB User Profile name, from Profile 2 to Hope ← still uses folder named Profile 1
  • Renaming 3rd BB User Profile name, from Profile 3 to Emma ← still uses folder named Profile 2
  • Renaming 4th BB User Profile name, from Profile 4 to Work ← still uses folder named Profile 3

Establish routines for preserving your data:

How to Back Up Passwords that are stored by Brave Browser

Scrolling down the webpage at:

https://support.brave.com/hc/en-us/articles/360018185951-How-do-I-use-the-built-in-password-manager

A note states:

“Export Passwords - Selecting Download file will export all credentials you’ve saved in your browser as a .CSV file onto your system. Note that anyone who has access to your system will be able to open and view this file, so it is recommended that you delete this file once you’ve used the file for its intended purpose.”

Tips on how to encrypt that .CSV file:

Be sure to safely store a copy of that CSV file on an external drive.

How to back up your Bookmarks as an HTML file

Two ways to get to the Bookmarks Manager.

One way:

  1. Launch Brave and open the Main menu: newmenuicon.png
  2. Select Bookmarks --> Bookmarks Manager
  3. Open the More options menu at the top right
  4. Select Export and choose where you want to store the exported file.

Another way:

  1. In a new Brave Browser window, go to: brave://bookmarks
  2. Locate the “Organize” (vertically-arrayed 3-dot) menu button in the upper-right area of the window; click on that
  3. You should get a pop-up menu, in which you click on the “Export bookmarks” selection and choose where you want to store the exported file.

The exported file name: “bookmarks.html”

Be sure to safely store a copy of that HTML file on an external drive.

I suggest naming the backups in chronological order; for example:

20250926-2128_Friday_BB_Bookmarks.html
20250927-2128_Saturday_BB_Bookmarks.html

20250926-2131_Friday_BB_Passwords.csv
20250927-2131_Saturday_BB_Passwords.csv

Also maintain a daily routine to backup the User Data folder:

C:\Users\[UserName]\AppData\Local\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Default

All backups should be stored somewhere that is NOT within the Brave Browser installation paths. Of course, the Passwords.csv files (however you name them) should be stored within an encrypted directory / folder - “vault” of some kind.

Mid-day and at the end of the day, create Windows OS System Restore Point.

Windows OS users, establish a daily routine of creating System Restore Points.

About Brave Browser Tabs:

‘Every time brave crashes, the restore feature doesn’t work - #2 by 289wk’

Perplexity.ai generated a Windows OS PowerShell script for backing up the User Data folder:

‘https://www.perplexity.ai/search/can-perplexity-write-a-windows-lMOWvWKrSzumukWFsbzDcQ’

All passwords and logins gone
3

Thanks… I’ll try to solve it tonight.

4

@JuLille

I suspect that the primary causes are:

Windows OS updates

Extensions updates

Other software updates

Data sync(s)

. . . that are interrupted, paused, on hold

“at just the wrong moment.”

That causes Brave Browser to not be satisfied with what it tries to find and process, AND THEN Brave Browser falls back to some factory defaults, such as using a new Local State file.

SOMETIMES: A BB user has recovered passwords by using the backed up Login Data file; and sometimes by doing that PLUS using the backed up Local State file; and sometimes by a combination of: Resetting the Brave Browser Settings, using the backed up Login Data file, plus, using the backed up Local State file.

PS. I recommend never using any Hibernation or Sleep mode on Windows OS machines. Screensaver, is OK.

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